Hydrotherapy apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hydrotherapy apparatus including a tub having water inlets spaced around the periphery thereof and adapted to selectively or simultaneously admit water into the tub so as to cause turbulence therein for hydrotherapeutic applications. Water may also be caused to impact upon a given portion of a patient&#39;&#39;s body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure by means of a nozzle the position of which is adjustable relative to the patient&#39;&#39;s body by means of a support rod which engages the patient&#39;&#39;s body and fixes the position of the nozzle relative thereto. The support rod includes a ball carried in a socket on one end thereof as well as a pivotable plate which is adapted to engage the patient&#39;&#39;s body and thus fix the angular position of the nozzle relative thereto.

v United States Patent Friend Feb. 15, 1972 [5 HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS Primary PP Attorney-Diller, Brown, Ramik & Holt [72] Inventor: Homer C. Friend, 6502 North 35th Avenue, Phoenix, Ariz. 85107 [22] Filed: Nov. 14, 1969 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 876,887

A hydrotherapy apparatus including a tub having water inlets 52 us. Cl. ..l28/66 Spaced around the P p y thereof and adapted to selective- 511 int. Cl. ..A6lh 9/00 W or simultaneously admit water into the so as to cause 58 Field of Search ..128/66, 369; 4/178, 180 turbulence therein for hydrotherapeutic applications Water may also be caused to impact upon a given portion of a pa- 5 References Cited tients body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure by means of a nozzle the position of which is adjusta- UNITED STATES PATENTS ble relative to the patients body by means of a support rod which engages the patients body and fixes the position of the ggggg 5 5: "128/66 nozzle relative thereto. The support rod includes a ball carried 950059 2/1910 k in a socket on one end thereof as well as a pivotable plate 3 297025 1/1967 g i 128/66 which is adapted to engage the patients body and thus fix the FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS angular position of the nozzle relative thereto.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Pmmmrta 15 mm 36418536 34 42 A r 4. 36 m INVENTOR 35 HDMER'C. FR\END ATTORNEYS HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS This invention relates to a hydrotherapeutic apparatus by which a water jet can be caused to impact. upon the patients body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure.

Hydrotherapy has been employed with water jets, for massage effects; but with fixed orifices on the tub, or with hand-held hose no71les, the effect isgaged and determined by visual observation of the effect of the jet impact. What is too much for one patient andcan lead to injectionof an excessive amount of the liquid into such patient's tissues to thepointof causing capillary hemorrhage, may be insufiicient foranother, on the basis of visual observation: andlikewise what is proper at one part of a given patients body may be improper at another, although the visual appearance is the same.

An object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus by which predetermined effects can be given hydrotherapeutically, with controllable variation as the physician may prescribe. I

Another object is the provision of a hydrotherapeutic jet apparatus by which the. jet impact may be controlled as to volume and pressure at the point of impact.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear in-the course of the following description and claims, an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

' P10. 1 is an upright section through a hydrotherapy tub, with associated conduits and with a jet-controlling'arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the tub;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a jet-controllingdevice, with parts broken away for clearness;

FIG. 4 is an edge elevation of the same;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of amodified part of a jet-controlling device.

The therapeutic apparatus comprises a tub into which water can be brought to a level such as 11. for covering the body part to be treated. The water jet for the treatment is delivered from the end of a hose 12 under control of a valve 13. This may be from the city mains, coming directly through the cold water pipe 14 with its valve 15 and indirectly through a water heater and by the hot water pipe 16 with its valve 17. By adjustment of the valves 15, 17, the temperature of the water can be controlled at its delivery to the flow pipe 18 and valve 13 and thence into the hose 12. The pressure in the flow pipe 18 is indicated by a gauge 19 and the water temperature by a thermometer 19a. Also water canbe recirculated from the tub 10 by the return pipe 20 and a motor-driven pump 21 to pipe 2 2 and thence through valve 23 to the flow pipe 18. When a steady water level 11 is to be maintained, with recirculation, and with makeup hot water, the pump 21 is operated so its output pressure delivers the recirculated liquid to the flow pipe 18, and the valve 17 may be partly open to maintain water temperature, with valve 15 closed. Valve 24 on a branch of pipe 22 is partly opened to discharge an amount of water equivalent to that entering through valve 17. For controlling the effect of the pump 21, without wastage of water the pipe 22 may have a branch with a valve 24a which leads back into the tub 10.

The amount and depth of the treatment by the jet of water from the end of the hose 12 is controlled by the valve 13 and the position of the hose end. To determine the position of the hose end, the hose is fixed in a sleeve 25 by a clamp 26 having a screw 27 for holding the hose in place. The sleeve 25 is formed with a bracket 28 having a passage for the gauge rod 30, upon which it may be fixed by the screw 29. The rod 30 is graduated, with indicia indicating distances, for example by inches and half-inches. At the body end of the rod 30, it has an enlargement 32 comprised of an upper part 33 having an external screw thread, and a lower sleeve 34. A ball 35 is held by the inwardly projecting lower end of sleeve 34 and fits in a cavity 36 of the upper part 33; so that the ball can turn but has insignificant freedom of movement in the direction of rod 30.

A sleeve 38-fits around-the bodyend'of the rod.30, resting against the upper face of the enlargement 32, and has theradially projecting ears 39, between which is fitted the=.portion 40 of an arm 41 which has a shoe.42.at its free end. A screw.43 passesthrough the ears-39-andportion 40, and engages a nut 44 which may be secured to one of the ears: when the screw is tightened, the sleeve 38 isheld'against movementrelative to the rod-30, and the arm 41 is held against pivotal movement relative to the axis ofrthe screw.43. r

Apreliminary setting is effectedby holding therod 30-at right angles to a flat surface, with the ball 35 in contact with the surface, adjustingtheshoe42 until it also is in contact, and tighteningthe screw 43. Thereafter, the nozzle end will be at a distance from the line or plane determined by the ball 35 and shoe 42 which-is indicated by the prevailing position of the bracket 28 on the rod 30.

A therapeutic'treatment can be conducted by placing the patients body in the tub of water, and adjusting the bracket 28 to a selected position on the rod 30. The ball 35 is then brought against the patientnear the point at which treatment is to start, with the shoe 42 resting at another part of the body. The gauge 19 is then observed, to ascertain the water pressure existent with'the existing position of valves 15, 17', 23 and 24.

The-hose 12 is illustratively connected to the pipe 18 at connection 18a. The valve 13 is then opened and water flows through the hose l2, and the gauge 19 observed: if the pressure drops below that desired for the treatment, the valves l5, 17, 23, and 24 are. adjusted to attain the desired pressure.

The hose end may be above or below water level. For deep therapy, it is preferred to have the end below water, so the treatment occurs by water alone and without air bubbles therein. The jet, by impacting upon the patients skin, causes a depression thereof, with a massage effect. With swelling or edema not due to externally induced poison effects, this massage may be continued by moving the ball 35 relatively toward the patients thorax, wherewith the free liquid content of the edemous tissues is urged away from the impact region toward the. parts of the patients body where it can be separated-and excreted by. natural processes.

A closer control can be exercised as shown in FIG. 5 where the end of the hose 12 is provided by a metal sleeve 250 formed with the bracket 28 as before. Pitot tubes 50 extend into the sleeve 25a and have their ends turned as usual upstreamward and downstreamward relative to the water current. These. tubes lead to a gauge 51 illustratively having cylinders 52, 53 with pistons connected to the gauge indicator needle 54, so this needle shows the pressure difference at the ends of the Pitot tubes. Since the cross-sectional area of the sleeve 25a is fixed, the gauge 51 can be calibrated to indicate the volume of water moving through the sleeve accurately, noting that the pressure can be closely controlled by valve 13 and gauge 19.

The apparatus can be provided with equipment for turbulent water therapy. Thus, the tub 10 may be provided with water inlets 60, 61 and 62 in the sides thereof. This inlet 60 may have adiarneter of 1% inches, and be located 4 inches from the floor of the tub and provided with a connection for the hose l2. inlets 61 and 62 can be three-fourths inch'in diameter, located 4 inches from the floor of the tub. The streams from inlets 61, 62 are of value in the water massage for reducing fat and for general treatment of crippling ail ments. Individual control valves 63, 64 and 65 are shown; noting that the valve 63 is employed in lieu of valve 13 when the hose is connected to inlet 60.

The apparatus is advantageously used in treating arthritis, bursitis, prostatitis, polio, spastic and other conditions by a comfortable massage. In many cases significant relief can be produced by useof 2 to 5 pounds pressure for 2 to 5 minutes with the hose noule end at 6 to 12 inches from the affected part.

An illustrative hydrotherapy apparatus may have a tub for holding to I39 gallons of water. Such a tub may be 7 feet long by 3 feet wide and 30 inches deep. The recirculating l0l023 nos-1 pump can be operated to deliver up to 120 gallons per minute. The water heating system can hold the tub contents and the water jet at 100 to 102 F. The hose end can have an internal diameter of 1 inch and the adjustments made for a delivery of about 80 gallons per minute, so that a pressure of about pounds per square inch is exerted at impact for the usual patient with the hose end spaced 7 inches from the body. For this, the supply pipes l4, 16, 18, 22 should be at least 1% inches in diameter, and the return pipe at least 2 inches: the return through valve 24a may be as small as one-fourth inch in diameter. j

The illustrated form is not restrictive, and the invention may be practiced in other ways within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In a hydrotherapeutic apparatus of the type having nozzle means for directing a fluid jet to a given portion of a patients body, said hydrotherapeutic apparatus comprising means for maintaining nozzle means a predetermined distance from a given portion of the patients body, said maintaining means including a support rod for fixing the position of said nozzle means relative to the given portion of the patients body whereby the fluid jet may be caused to impact upon the patients body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure, said support rod including means for engaging the patients body to fix its position relative thereto, said engaging means being a ball carried by a socket on an end of said support rod.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for fixing the angular position of said support rod relative to the given portion of the patients body.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said angular positioning means includes an arm pivotally connected to said support rod and having a shoe portion at an end thereof for engaging the patients body.

4. in a hydrotherapeutic apparatus of the type having nozzle means for directing a fluid jet to a given portion of a patients body, said hydrotherapeutic apparatus comprising means for maintaining said nozzle means a predetermineddistance from a given portion of the patients body, said maintaining means including a support rod means for fixing the position of said nozzle means relative to the given portion of the patients body whereby the fluid jet may be caused to impact upon the patients body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure, and said support rod means including means for engaging the patients body to fix the position of said nozzle means relative thereto, said means for engaging the patients body comprising-two-point engagement means including one end of said support rod means and an arm having a shoe at its free end, means for pivotally connecting said arm to said support rod means for pivotal movement in the plane'of said support rod means, and means for fixing the angular relationship of said arm and said support rod means.

5. A hydrotherapeutic apparatus for treating a given portion of a patients body, said hydrotherapeutic apparatus comprising a tub, means for delivering fluid under pressure to said tub, means for regulating the volume and pressure of fluid delivered, means for evacuating fluid from said tub, nozzle means at a terminal end of said delivering means' for directing a fluid jet to a given portion of a patients body, and means for maintaining said nozzle means a predetermined distance from the given portion of the patients body whereby the fluid jet may be caused to impact upon the patients body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure, said maintaining means including a support rod for fixing the position of said nozzle means relative to the given portion of the patients body, said support rod including means for engaging the patients body to fix its position relative thereto, said engaging means comprising a ball carried by a socket on an end of said support rod.

10102.! (new 

1. In a hydrotherapeutic apparatus of the type having nozzle means for directing a fluid jet to a given portion of a patient''s body, said hydrotherapeutic apparatus comprising means for maintaining nozzle means a predetermined distance from a given portion of the patient''s body, said maintaining means including a support rod for fixing the position of said nozzle means relative to the given portion of the patient''s body whereby the fluid jet may be caused to impact upon the patient''s body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure, said support rod including means for engaging the patient''s body to fix its position relative thereto, said engaging means being a ball carried by a socket on an end of said support rod.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for fixing the angular position of said support rod relative to the given portion of the patient''s body.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said angular positioning means includes an arm pivotally connected to said support rod and having a shoe portion at an end thereof for engaging the patient''s body.
 4. In a hydrotherapeutic apparatus of the type having nozzle means for directing a fluid jet to a given portion of a patient''s body, said hydrotherapeutic apparatus comprising means for maintaining said nozzle means a predetermined distance from a given portion of the patient''s body, said maintaining means including a support rod means for fixing thE position of said nozzle means relative to the given portion of the patient''s body whereby the fluid jet may be caused to impact upon the patient''s body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure, and said support rod means including means for engaging the patient''s body to fix the position of said nozzle means relative thereto, said means for engaging the patient''s body comprising two-point engagement means including one end of said support rod means and an arm having a shoe at its free end, means for pivotally connecting said arm to said support rod means for pivotal movement in the plane of said support rod means, and means for fixing the angular relationship of said arm and said support rod means.
 5. A hydrotherapeutic apparatus for treating a given portion of a patient''s body, said hydrotherapeutic apparatus comprising a tub, means for delivering fluid under pressure to said tub, means for regulating the volume and pressure of fluid delivered, means for evacuating fluid from said tub, nozzle means at a terminal end of said delivering means for directing a fluid jet to a given portion of a patient''s body, and means for maintaining said nozzle means a predetermined distance from the given portion of the patient''s body whereby the fluid jet may be caused to impact upon the patient''s body under predeterminable conditions of volume and pressure, said maintaining means including a support rod for fixing the position of said nozzle means relative to the given portion of the patient''s body, said support rod including means for engaging the patient''s body to fix its position relative thereto, said engaging means comprising a ball carried by a socket on an end of said support rod. 